Pearl Necklaces: A Piece Of Royalty In Your Closet

By Author: Alan Smith
Total Articles: 21
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When you see a beautiful, authentic pearl strand around a lady’s neck, it probably reminds you of class, style and elegance. These glorious beads have been treasured since ancient times. They have been known for their radiance, luster and purity. There have been so many ways these have been used: as embroidery on clothes, embedded in jewelry and more. In fact, people have even crushed pearls into their makeup, ingested them as medicine, and worn them as protective amulets. Historically, these were considered to be symbols of wealth, class, and status. Back in the day pearls were not cultured, and were extremely rare. They were only seen on royalty and the affluent of the society.

Bridal jewelry made from these beads is a favorite amongst many women. The custom of accessorizing bride with pearls dates back to ancient Rome and Greece. In ancient Greece, it was believed that if a bride wore pearl jewelry on her wedding day, she would have a happy marriage with few tears. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous pearl owners through the years.

A woman who used pearls to enhance her already shining personality ...
... was the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. The romance between Cleopatra and Mark Antony is one of the greatest love stories of all time. It is said that the queen challenged Mark Antony that she could serve the most expensive dinner of all time. When the table was laid, she dropped a pearl into the filled wineglass, letting it dissolve, and thus living up to her claim.

One of the most well known pearl necklaces belonged to Anne Boleyn. She was the second wife of King Henry VIII. While she was not considered to be amongst the finest looking women in those times, but her fashion sense made her an icon of style in Tudor. One of her signature accessories was a strand of pearls with a gold ‘B’ pendant dangling from the center. Three teardrop pearls were suspended from the letter. This special pearl strand can be seen in many of the portraits that were painted of Anne Boleyn. Even today, this style is popular amongst celebrities.

The queen of England, Elizabeth II, is a member of royalty that were pearl enthusiasts. She wore them on her wedding day. In recent pictures, she is often seen sporting exclusive pearl studs or a classic strand.

Besides these lovely ladies, there are famous actresses who loved pearls as well. Elizabeth Taylor owned La Peregrina pearls discovered by Spanish conquistadors. First lady, Mrs. Kennedy, had a large collection as well. So, if you plan to gift a strand of these lovely droplets or want to purchase one for yourself, rest assured that you are adding a piece of royalty to your jewelry collection!